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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Rampant Sexism on Display at the Rio Olympics
(there are some twitter clips that I cannot figure out how to embed at the link below)
The Rampant Sexism on Display at the Rio Olympics
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Sexism has been on display in the coverage of the Rio Olympics so far. (Photo: Shawn Carpenter/flickr/cc)
On Thursday night, American swimmer Simone Manuel tied with Canadian Penny Oleksiak for a historic gold medal in the 100m freestyle. NBC didnt air Manuels medal ceremony right away even though shes the first African American woman to win gold for an individual swim.
Instead, the network aired a delayed broadcast of Russian gymnasts. The BBC, however, did air the medal ceremony as it was happening. Watch the contrast between both programs here.
The sexism and racism arent limited to broadcast coverage. The San Jose Mercury News didnt even bother to include Manuels name in a headline that read: Olympics: Michael Phelps shared historic night with African-American.
Throughout the first week of the Rio Olympics, sexism has been on display again and again in the coverage of the athletic prowess of thousands of incredible women athletes:
NBC commentator Jim Watson on Simone Biles uneven-bars performance: I think she might even go higher than the men.
Simone Biles on uneven bars
. . . . .
The outcome? Some of the greatest athletes ever confident women who embody power, focus and dedication perform at the highest level of sport, earn medals, break world records, and, in Manuels case, push past the history of racism in U.S. swimming pools. Instead of being recognized for their success on their own merits, theyre compared with men, see their hard work credited to men, have their names omitted from stories, and are labeled as wives and mothers. To top it all off theyre paid less than men. More women than men are representing the U.S. in Rio and women are expected to take home more medals, even though there are fewer events women are eligible for. The Olympics, noted one blogger, should be a great opportunity to highlight to our daughters (and our sons) how women can not only be athletes, they can be the best athletes on the planet. (You can read about the sexism on display in Rio at Bustle and the Huffington Post or watch a few examples over at AJ+.)
As a lifelong athlete Ive always bristled at the inadequate coverage of women athletes, which all too often focuses on clothing, shoes and personal lives as opposed to skill level, training regimen and achievements. Playing sports like swimming and softball has helped me learn to love and use my body, voice and mind. Sports have taught me assertiveness, leadership skills and goal setting. Athletics have given me survival skills, gotten me through some difficult times and given me a sense of belonging and community when I needed it most. All of this is still part of my life today.
. . . .
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/08/13/rampant-sexism-display-rio-olympics
LisaM
(27,813 posts)NBC has a very scripted way of covering things. They tape-delayed Michael Phelps' last swim by three hours on Saturday for the West Coast (luckily I am in Seattle, and we watched it on CBC live). I'm not saying there isn't some sexism, but I don't think they've shown any medal ceremonies in real time, and I also don't think they should tape delay coverage on a Saturday. I didn't want to HEAR that Phelps had won, I wanted to see him win.
brooklynite
(94,591 posts)LisaM
(27,813 posts)I like watching it, too, but it lends itself to being shown episodically rather than all at once, and I don't like that - it loses some of its narrative.
whatthehey
(3,660 posts)titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)I have watched almost all of the Olympics coverage. I'm not seeing the racism and sexism that you are seeing. Yes they don't always show a medal ceremony and many times it is "tape-delayed." They fold in the medal ceremonies in between more interesting sports going on. Heck they don't show most of the medal ceremonies at all overall.
They also position previously recorded programming towards the end of the evening so they can garner the most viewership between 10pm and 11pm Eastern time. Why?? Because Pacific Time is then also in Prime time coverage at 7pm to 8pm. It may seem like a conspiracy...but I can tell you 100% it is for ratings which equal revenue and happier clients/sponsors.
niyad
(113,336 posts)of the--oh my gosh--MAKEUP the women are wearing isn't sexist? got it.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)I watch specifically the sports I am interested in (a little of everything, but especially women's field hockey, fencing, BB, and women's beach volleyball). I see the ceremonies live, see the action without all the bs and promotion. Great Olympics, imo.
niyad
(113,336 posts)commentary (reminds me of the difference between the c-span and regular network coverages of the conventions)
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)"Wife of NFL Player" was a Chicago Tribune tweet...
"Phelps and African American Win" was the San Jose Mercury...
And are you really surprised that Fox News made the make-up comment??
I've watched nearly all of the NBC coverage and it hasn't been sexist at all. I try to pick and choose my outrage about stuff on reality.
melman
(7,681 posts)ffs just turn it off if it bothers you so much.
niyad
(113,336 posts)in the posts.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)And I was blown away by her performances. So I'm not sure what this proves about the alleged rampant racism and sexism in the coverage.